Effect this measure will have on costs and revenues of state government.

The purpose of this bill is to permit funeral directors to decide the type of services that will be rendered for the amount paid by the Department of Health and Human Resources for funeral expenses for indigent persons , including cremation. The bill requires a funeral director to make a reasonable effort to give notice to the next of kin if he or she elects to provide for the disposition of the human remains by cremation. The bill permits the funeral director to proceed with cremation only if the next of kin does not pay the difference between the cost of cremation and the cost of the type of service the next of kin desires. The bill requires a funeral director to execute an affidavit that sets forth efforts made to notify the next of kin concerning the intent to cremate the remains of the individual. The bill establishing a criminal penalty for making a false affidavit. The bill prohibits a cremation from taking place sooner than twenty-four hours after the funeral director has received a body.
Based on information from the Funeral Consumer Guardian Society, the least expensive cost for a cremation (which includes direct cremation with no memorial visitation or services) is $1,250. Currently, the Department pays $1,250 for burial of an indigent individual. Therefore, based on this information, the Department does not anticipate a fiscal impact.

Fiscal Note Detail

Over-all effect

Effect of Proposal

Fiscal Year

2013Increase/Decrease(use"-")

2014Increase/Decrease(use"-")

Fiscal Year(Upon FullImplementation)

1. Estmated Total Cost

0

0

0

Personal Services

0

0

0

Current Expenses

0

0

0

Repairs and Alterations

0

0

0

Assets

0

0

0

Other

0

0

0

2. Estimated Total Revenues

0

0

0

3. Explanation of above estimates (including long-range effect):

Memorandum

There could be issues with the wishes of the deceased and the family for personal or religious reasons. This could be especially true if DHHR was a guardian of the deceased.